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Upgrade Kit

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(→‎$750 Core 2 Duo)
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February 2007 NOTE: I have removed all Socket 939 systems from the list, since 939 is being phased out, and motherboards are increasingly hard to find.
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Essentially all of these upgrade kits are going to be fairly basic, in the budget of $200-250.
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The first two machines are for people who want a basic cheap upgrade, the third is intended for someone who has DDR1 and an AGP video card lying around they'd wish to retain, although with DDR2 at current prices, it could be argued it's not worthwhile.
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==== $250 AM2 ====
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==== Basic AMD ====
 
{| class="wikitable" border="0" style="text-align:left; border: 1px solid #999; background-color:#FFFFFF"
 
{| class="wikitable" border="0" style="text-align:left; border: 1px solid #999; background-color:#FFFFFF"
 
|- bgcolor="#cccccc"
 
|- bgcolor="#cccccc"
 
!Part
 
!Part
−
!Model  
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!Model
 
!Price
 
!Price
 
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
! CPU
 
! CPU
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| AM2 Sempron 3000+ || [http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=Sempron+3000+AM2 58]
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| [http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/ProductInformation/0,,30_118_11599,00.html AMD Sempron LE-1100] || [http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=Sempron+LE-1100 34]
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| rowspan="12"|
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|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
! Motherboard
 
! Motherboard
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| MSI K9MM-V || [http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?sourceid=Mozilla-search&q=K9MM-V 67]
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| [http://www2.abit.com.tw/page/en/motherboard/motherboard_detail.php?fMTYPE=Socket%20AM2&pMODEL_NAME=NF-M2SV Abit NF-M2SV] || [http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?sourceid=Mozilla-search&q=NF-M2SV 51]
 
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
! RAM
 
! RAM
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| 512MB Generic DDR2 || [http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=512+DDR2 35]
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| 1GB Brand-name DDR2-667 || [http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=1GB+DDR2 20]
 
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
! Hard Drive
 
! Hard Drive
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|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
! Power Supply
 
! Power Supply
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| [http://www.coolermaster.com/index.php?LT=english&Language_s=2&url_place=product&p_serial=RS-430-PCAR/P&other_title=+RS-430-PCAR%2FP+eXtreme%20Power%20430W 430W Coolermaster Extreme Power] || [http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=extreme+430 48]
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| [http://www.coolermaster.com/index.php?LT=english&Language_s=2&url_place=product&p_serial=RS-430-PCAR/P&other_title=+RS-430-PCAR%2FP+eXtreme%20Power%20430W 430W Coolermaster Extreme Power] || [http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=extreme+430 50]
 
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
! Cooling
 
! Cooling
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|- bgcolor="#cccccc"
 
|- bgcolor="#cccccc"
 
! Total Cost
 
! Total Cost
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| - || 208 + Postage
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| - || 155 + Postage
 
|}
 
|}
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I'm assuming that the buyer will carry over their hard drive and optical drive. If you wish to purchase new drives as well, you may be better off with the complete systems on the [[Workstation]] page.
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Some people are really short on cash and need to get a boost in performance (it really sucks to be on something like a Celeron 600 nowadays). These are probably the cheapest bits you can get from MSY, I'm assuming that the buyer will carry over their hard drive and optical drive. If not, an 80GB one can be had for around 60 bucks. If the buyer wishes to purchase a new optical drive, a DVD-RW drive is under $50 now.
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Remember that freight charges from different stores will add up - this defeats the purpose of finding the cheapest price from several stores, rather than just one.
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The board features onboard video and onboard everything else which removes the need for a graphics card (which is expensive and unnecessary). If you require AGP graphics support, you could purchase the [http://global.msi.com.tw/index.php?func=proddesc&prod_no=1104&maincat_no=1&cat2_no=171 MSI K9MM-V] for [http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=K9MM-V similar].
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Remember that freight charges from different stores will add up - this defeats the purpose of finding the cheapest price from several stores, rather than just one.  
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The board features onboard video and onboard everything else which removes the need for a graphics card (which is expensive and unnecessary). Such an upgrade of course is targeted only at e.g. students doing work or mums and dads who just want a no frills machine. The board also allows upgrading to faster AM2 CPUs, and it is rumoured that AM3 CPUs will also run in AM2 boards, giving some future proofing.
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Some people may wish to run a more feature-packed motherboard, and the Asus M2NPV-MX is another $20, for a better chipset and better onboard video (nVidia GeForce 6150).
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It may be tempting to go for a Socket 754 setup if you've got some spare DDR1 RAM lying around, but it is considered obsolete nowadays. Some may wish to get either a DVD-RW, or a faster CPU (like an Athlon 64 3000+). Now if you plan to run Windows Vista, 1GB of RAM is strongly recommended, although if you're not using Vista and don't plan to, 512MB may be enough.
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The new power supply is recommended because of the fact that most current day motherboards are 24pin, whilst most older power supplies are 20pin. Whilst adapters are available, it's wise to play it safe and get a brand new quality power supply anyway.
 
The new power supply is recommended because of the fact that most current day motherboards are 24pin, whilst most older power supplies are 20pin. Whilst adapters are available, it's wise to play it safe and get a brand new quality power supply anyway.
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If the machine you're upgrading still uses a BabyAT power supply, chances are it's past being upgradable (the rest of the system would be ancient), and you'll be looking at a completely new machine.
 
If the machine you're upgrading still uses a BabyAT power supply, chances are it's past being upgradable (the rest of the system would be ancient), and you'll be looking at a completely new machine.
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==== Basic Intel ====
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==== $500 AM2 ====
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{| class="wikitable" border="0" style="text-align:left; border: 1px solid #999; background-color:#FFFFFF"
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left"
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|- bgcolor="#cccccc"
 
|- bgcolor="#cccccc"
−
! Part !! Model !! Price
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!Part
−
|-
+
!Model
 +
!Price
 +
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
! CPU
 
! CPU
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| AMD Athlon 64 X2 3600+ || [http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=X2+3600 99]
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| [http://www.intel.com/products/processor/celeron/index.htm Intel Celeron 420] || [http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=Celeron+420 39]
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|
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|- bgcolor="#efefef"
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|-
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! Motherboard
 
! Motherboard
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| Asus M2NPV-MX || [http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=M2NPV-MX 88]
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| [http://au.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=3&l2=11&l3=502&l4=0&model=1682&modelmenu=1 Asus P5S-MX-SE] || [http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=P5S-MX 55]
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|
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|- bgcolor="#efefef"
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|-
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! RAM
 
! RAM
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| 2x512MB Generic DDR2 || [http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=512+DDR2 70]
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| 1GB Brand-name DDR2-667 || [http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=1GB+DDR2 21]
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|
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|- bgcolor="#efefef"
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|-
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! Hard Drive
 
! Hard Drive
 
| Carry over from previous machine || -
 
| Carry over from previous machine || -
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|
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|- bgcolor="#efefef"
−
|-
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! Optical Drive
 
! Optical Drive
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| [http://www.pioneer.com.au/products/computer_peripherals/index.html 16x Pioneer DVR-111D] || [http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=111D 39]
 
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|
 
−
|-
 
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! Graphics Card
 
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| Carry over from previous machine/Onboard || -
 
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|
 
−
|-
 
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! Case
 
 
| Carry over from previous machine || -
 
| Carry over from previous machine || -
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|
 
−
|-
 
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! Power Supply
 
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| [http://www.coolermaster.com/index.php?LT=english&Language_s=2&url_place=product&p_serial=RS-430-PCAR/P&other_title=+RS-430-PCAR%2FP+eXtreme%20Power%20430W 430W Coolermaster Extreme Power] || [http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=Coolermaster+430W 48]
 
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|
 
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|-
 
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! Cooling
 
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| - || -
 
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|
 
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|-
 
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! Additional
 
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| - || -
 
−
|
 
 
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
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! Total Cost
 
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| - || 344 + Postage
 
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|-
 
−
|}
 
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Many people will prefer a quicker AMD system, so here's a faster one. However, unlike the Core 2 Duo listed below, there's no boards which support both AGP and PCIe video cards, or DDR1/DDR2 RAM, so you're stuck with PCIe or onboard video (which the Intel setup lacks). It's more an advanced version of the $250 upgrade than an AMD version of the $500 one, though.
 
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==== $500 Core 2 Duo ====
 
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left"
 
−
|- bgcolor="#cccccc"
 
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! Part !! Model !! Price
 
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|-
 
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! CPU
 
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| [http://www.intel.com/products/processor/core2duo/index.htm Core 2 Duo E4300] || [http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=E4300 233]
 
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|
 
−
|-
 
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! Motherboard
 
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| [http://www.asrock.com/product/775Dual-VSTA.htm ASRock 775Dual-VSTA] || [http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=775Dual-VSTA 79]
 
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|
 
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|-
 
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! RAM
 
−
| Carry over from previous machine || -
 
−
|
 
−
|-
 
−
! Hard Drive
 
−
| Carry over from previous machine || -
 
−
|
 
−
|-
 
−
! Optical Drive
 
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| [http://www.pioneer.com.au/products/computer_peripherals/index.html 16x Pioneer DVR-111D] || [http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=111D 39]
 
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|
 
−
|-
 
 
! Graphics Card
 
! Graphics Card
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| Carry over from previous machine || -
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| Onboard from motherboard || -
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|  
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|- bgcolor="#efefef"
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|-
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! Sound Card
 +
| Onboard from motherboard || -
 +
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
! Case
 
! Case
 
| Carry over from previous machine || -
 
| Carry over from previous machine || -
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|
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|- bgcolor="#efefef"
−
|-
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! Power Supply
 
! Power Supply
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| [http://www.coolermaster.com/index.php?LT=english&Language_s=2&url_place=product&p_serial=RS-430-PCAR/P&other_title=+RS-430-PCAR%2FP+eXtreme%20Power%20430W 430W Coolermaster Extreme Power] || [http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=Coolermaster+430W 48]
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| [http://www.coolermaster.com/index.php?LT=english&Language_s=2&url_place=product&p_serial=RS-430-PCAR/P&other_title=+RS-430-PCAR%2FP+eXtreme%20Power%20430W 430W Coolermaster Extreme Power] || [http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=extreme+430 50]
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|
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|- bgcolor="#efefef"
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|-
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! Cooling
 
! Cooling
 
| - || -
 
| - || -
−
|
+
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
−
|-
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! Additional
 
! Additional
 
| - || -
 
| - || -
−
|
 
−
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
−
! Total Cost
 
−
| - || 399 + Postage
 
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|-
 
−
|}
 
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The big advantage of this board is that it can run AGP and PCIe video cards, and DDR1/DDR2 RAM, it's the ultimate upgrader board :)
 
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==== $750 Core 2 Duo ====
 
−
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left"
 
 
|- bgcolor="#cccccc"
 
|- bgcolor="#cccccc"
−
! Part !! Model !! Price
 
−
|-
 
−
! CPU
 
−
| Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 || [http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=E4300 233]
 
−
|
 
−
|-
 
−
! Motherboard
 
−
| [http://www.asrock.com/product/775Dual-VSTA.htm ASRock 775Dual-VSTA] || [http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=775Dual-VSTA 79]
 
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|
 
−
|-
 
−
! RAM
 
−
| Carry over from previous machine || -
 
−
|
 
−
|-
 
−
! Hard Drive
 
−
| Carry over from previous machine || -
 
−
|
 
−
|-
 
−
! Optical Drive
 
−
| [http://www.pioneer.com.au/products/computer_peripherals/index.html 16x Pioneer DVR-111D] || [http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=111D 39]
 
−
|
 
−
|-
 
−
! Graphics Card
 
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| 256MB GeForce 7900GS || [http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=7900GS 199]
 
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|
 
−
|-
 
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! Case
 
−
| Carry over from previous machine || -
 
−
|
 
−
|-
 
−
! Power Supply
 
−
| [http://www.coolermaster.com/index.php?LT=english&Language_s=2&url_place=product&p_serial=RS-430-PCAR/P&other_title=+RS-430-PCAR%2FP+eXtreme%20Power%20430W 430W Coolermaster Extreme Power] || [http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=Coolermaster+430W 48]
 
−
|
 
−
|-
 
−
! Cooling
 
−
| - || -
 
−
|
 
−
|-
 
−
! Additional
 
−
| - || -
 
−
|
 
−
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
 
! Total Cost
 
! Total Cost
−
| - || 598 + Postage
+
| - || 165 + Postage
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|-
+
 
|}
 
|}
−
 
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Here is an Intel version of the upgrade rig, for those who prefer Intel's products. If you want to use some spare DDR1 RAM you have lying around, the Abit IP-95 is about $10 more expensive.
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It may seem stupid to spend $750 on an upgrade, however I found myself in a similar situation after my P4 motherboard screwed over on me. What I needed was something that had bang, overclocking, and some future proofing at the lowest cost possible. This meant reusing my old DDR RAM, HDD etc. This is what I had:
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*2.8 M0 Pentium 4
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*Gigabyte 8IPE1000 Pro 2
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*1GB Corsair TwinX 3200C2 V1.2
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*120GB Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 SATA
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*128MB SmartVGA 9800 Pro
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*16x Pioneer DVR-109
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*52x 32x 52x LG CD-RW
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*Generic Window Case
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*480W Thermaltake Butterfly
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With the board dead, that meant that I had to replace the CPU, motherboard, graphics card and power supply. I was unwilling to go AM2 because there weren't any cheap Lanparty overclocking boards, and I wanted to keep my semi-decent RAM (much better than my old Kingston ValueRAM stuff). This is what I ended up getting:
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*X2 4200+ Toledo
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*DFI Lanparty UT nF4-D
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*Leadtek PX7600GS TDH Classic Edition
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*500W Super Flower
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In total it cost around $640. Affordable, overclockable, blingy. From this upgrade I have learned a few things which I always keep in mind when buying new parts.
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*First of all, the hard drive I bought nearly 3 years ago was SATA. Thus this didn't require me to buy a new hard drive later on
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*My CPU was a good overclocking chip. Thus it fetched more when it was up for sale (compared to the Prescott that I had earlier and would have sold later)
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*Video card wasn't too bad - being second to only the flagship model a few years back, meant that it could fetch a bit more when it went up for sale
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Thus, when buying new parts always look for overclockability, value and future proofing.
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Latest revision as of 12:11, 12 February 2009

Essentially all of these upgrade kits are going to be fairly basic, in the budget of $200-250. The first two machines are for people who want a basic cheap upgrade, the third is intended for someone who has DDR1 and an AGP video card lying around they'd wish to retain, although with DDR2 at current prices, it could be argued it's not worthwhile.

[edit] Basic AMD

Part Model Price
CPU AMD Sempron LE-1100 34
Motherboard Abit NF-M2SV 51
RAM 1GB Brand-name DDR2-667 20
Hard Drive Carry over from previous machine -
Optical Drive Carry over from previous machine -
Graphics Card Onboard from motherboard -
Sound Card Onboard from motherboard -
Case Carry over from previous machine -
Power Supply 430W Coolermaster Extreme Power 50
Cooling - -
Additional - -
Total Cost - 155 + Postage

I'm assuming that the buyer will carry over their hard drive and optical drive. If you wish to purchase new drives as well, you may be better off with the complete systems on the Workstation page. Remember that freight charges from different stores will add up - this defeats the purpose of finding the cheapest price from several stores, rather than just one. The board features onboard video and onboard everything else which removes the need for a graphics card (which is expensive and unnecessary). If you require AGP graphics support, you could purchase the MSI K9MM-V for similar. The new power supply is recommended because of the fact that most current day motherboards are 24pin, whilst most older power supplies are 20pin. Whilst adapters are available, it's wise to play it safe and get a brand new quality power supply anyway. If the machine you're upgrading still uses a BabyAT power supply, chances are it's past being upgradable (the rest of the system would be ancient), and you'll be looking at a completely new machine.

[edit] Basic Intel

Part Model Price
CPU Intel Celeron 420 39
Motherboard Asus P5S-MX-SE 55
RAM 1GB Brand-name DDR2-667 21
Hard Drive Carry over from previous machine -
Optical Drive Carry over from previous machine -
Graphics Card Onboard from motherboard -
Sound Card Onboard from motherboard -
Case Carry over from previous machine -
Power Supply 430W Coolermaster Extreme Power 50
Cooling - -
Additional - -
Total Cost - 165 + Postage

Here is an Intel version of the upgrade rig, for those who prefer Intel's products. If you want to use some spare DDR1 RAM you have lying around, the Abit IP-95 is about $10 more expensive.

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